World’s Anti-Drugs Day- “Let’s think health not drugs”

Drug abuse is one of the most serious health issues, especially among the youth. It damages both the mental and physical health of the addicted person with diseases like HIV, hepatitis, tuberculosis and several psychological disorders. According to UN Office of Drug and Crime (UNODC), nearly 200 million people are using illegal drugs such as cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, opiates and sedative hypnotics worldwide. Other than these some easily available drugs are whitener, thinner, kerosene and cough syrups, to which youths get easily available.

According to world drug report 2017, released by UN Office of Drug and Crime (UNODC), about 29.9 million people or 0.6% of the global adult population suffered from drug abuse disorders.

The UN was determined to help create an international society free of drugs. In December 1987 the UN General Assembly decided to observe June 26 as the international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking. In 1998, the UN General Assembly adopted a political declaration to address the global drug problem.

Every year UNODC organizes several large-scale campaigns such as public rallies and mass media involvement to promote the awareness of danger associated with illegal drugs.

The theme for this year campaign is “Listen First – listening to children and youth is the first step to help them grow healthy and safe”.

Drugs are an evil not only for the individuals but for the family members and the society. Peer pressure has the major impact on the children and youths to get into drug addiction. In order to fit in their peer group’s children and youths start taking drugs. They even like to socialize with people with the same habit. In the influence of the drugs they lose their ability to think, they become violent. To satisfy their quest people do anything- beg, steal money or any act of violence.

Drug addiction is difficult to deal with but it not impossible to recover. Anti-drugs day is an initiative to create awareness among the people and serves as a reminder of the need to counter the problem of illegal drugs.